​​ Wales travel guides

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Travel Guide

The Pembrokeshire coast is a beautiful and rugged part of the UK, offering stunning countryside and breathtaking sea vistas. From its abundant wildlife to its historic sites, this national park covers over 600 sq. kilometres of spectacular cliffs, sandy beaches, and wild hills. Perfect for anyone looking for a fantastic holiday in the great outdoors, the Pembrokeshire coast is just waiting to be explored.​

Why Visit the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park?

The Pembrokeshire coast boasts some of the UK’s most stunning scenery, as well as a wealth of destinations to visit and enjoy. There are sandy beaches for family days out, as well as dramatic cliffs and sea stacks to admire on coast hikes.

There’s also a wealth of history to discover, from prehistoric burial sites to Iron Age forts, Norman castles, and medieval churches.

As Britain’s only coastal national park Pembrokeshire offers something unique for holidaymakers, and has something for everyone to enjoy, whether you want to hike, sightsee, sail, kayak, or just relax on the beach.

Getting There

The national park covers the south west corner of Wales, with the main road links along the coast via Newport and Swansea on the M4.

It can be reached in around 5 hours from our ferry port in Dover, passing through some of the UK’s most beautiful countryside along the way.

If you want to travel from our ferry port in Newcastle, you can reach south Wales in around 6 ½ hours.

What to See in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

If you’re a fan of outdoor activities and water sports, you have plenty of exciting experiences to choose from in Pembrokeshire. You can explore the sea caves and soaring cliffs in a kayak, head off in a boat for a spot of sea fishing, ride across the landscape on horseback, or cycle at your own pace along the coastal paths. There are activity centres all along the coast providing all sorts of experiences and equipment, so you’re never far from a new outdoor adventure.

If your tastes tend towards the historical, then you’re spoilt for choice with castles, churches, and towns. Pembroke Castle is one of the most spectacular in the country, with its many towers and high walls, and a huge stone keep in the centre.

There are also the ruins of Tenby Castle, set atop a high hill above this historic and picturesque town, which boasts a beautiful sandy beach, a Tudor merchant’s house, and a harbour where you catch a boat for some sea fishing.

In the northern part of the park, you’ll find one of Wales’s most significant prehistoric sites – the Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber. These dramatic standing stones rise out of the landscape, precariously perched atop one another, made from the very same stones that were taken from here to form the inner sanctum of Stonehenge.

In the northwest corner of the park is Britain’s smallest city, St Davids. Named for the patron saint of Wales who lived there in the 4th century, St Davids sits on a peninsula with spectacular scenery to match its historical and spiritual significance. The city itself is very pretty, sitting above St David’s Cathedral and the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace, and the resting place of Saint David himself. The current cathedral was built by the Normans, and the site was visited by many nobles and pilgrims, including William the Conqueror.

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WE'RE AWARD WINNING​​

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It’s always a proud moment when you’re recognised for your good work, we’re honoured to have been named as Europe's and the World’s Leading Ferry Operator in the 2015 World Travel Awards. We've won these awards for 5 years running.​​